Examines the history, philosophy, and organization of criminal justice and its European roots in our American society; explores the jurisdictions of local, state and federal agencies and their applications within the United States; presents an overview of the juvenile justice, corrections, and American court systems; discusses the multicultural and ethnic tendencies associated with criminal justice issues affecting the various criminal justice professions.

Relate principles of Sir Robert Peel and develop an understanding of their importance to policing and criminal justice in the United States.

Differentiate between the various criminal justice agencies and their jurisdiction on the local, state and federal levels.

Explain the responsibilities and necessary personal qualities of individuals working within the criminal justice profession.

Demonstrate the concept of professionalism in law enforcement.

Discuss the current controversies regarding law enforcement as a profession.

Explain and/or define the concepts of the Corrections, Juvenile Justice, parole and Probation, and American Court Systems as they apply to the criminal justice system.

Understand the value of the criminal justice system in a pluralistic society.

Understand the adversarial system as it relates to the criminal justice system.

Discuss current issues of adversarial positions between the criminal justice system and society.

Identify the various career opportunities available in criminal justice.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

1. Information Literacy

Definition:
Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.2 Access the needed information effectively, efficiently, ethically, and legally.
1.4 Evaluate issues (for example economic, legal, historic, social) surrounding the use of information.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition:
The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the
ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these
processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.6 Recognize how the value and biases in different disciplines can affect the ways in which data is analyzed.

4. Community & Cultural Diversity

Definition:
Recognizing the value of human communities and cultures from multiple perspectives through a critical understanding of
their similarities and differences.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
4.3 Understand the historically and socially constructed nature of—and the meanings attributed to—human differences.
4.6 Utilize ethical practice in relation to diverse communities and cultures for the promotion of equity and social justice.

Course Contents

Evolution of law enforcement.

Criminal justice system in action.

Civil and criminal offenses and differentiation of each.

Growing crime problem in the U.S. and the resulting problems.

Police operations as we enter the 21st century; what to expect.

Exploring problems facing communities in a multicultural society.

Critical issues which challenge law and law enforcement research and evaluation.

Criminal justice as a career.

Support growing diversity of society served by the criminal justice system.